Sunset Sounds

Venue: River Stage, Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Dates: 6 & 7 January 2010
Pictures: © Angus & Pete

Sounds of summer

Anthony At completion of a summer music festival people can leave yearning for more - Sunset Sounds 2010 opened the new-year with such a veritable array of musical fodder that meant onlookers could not help but to be satisfied.

The two-day festival offered many highlights so, in no particular order here are some of them.

“Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.” To borrow from the star of the first day of Sunset Sounds entertainment – Manhattan’s Moby, his signature salutation to the capacity crowd at Brisbane’s River Stage would no doubt be one that the audience themselves could deliver back to him. Joined on stage by a full band contingent featuring as well the ethereal vocals of Joy Malcolm he wasted no time in raising the pulse-rates of the already pumped up crowd, launching into ‘Go’ from his 1999 album ‘Play’. He demonstrated his experience in live performance spicing his set with a blend of mildly recent and moderately older dance-floor and ambient tracks, which span his twenty plus year career. Featuring ‘Porcelein’, ‘Bodyrock, ‘Why does my heart – feel so bad’, ‘Disco Lies’ and as the rains fell, the apt ‘Raining Again’. The Johnny Cash cover of ‘Ring of Fire’ and the hark back to raver times with the closer of ‘Feeling so real’, prompted me to think I’d dance till I was skinny if he continued to play.

The Middle East as 2009 Unearthed winners, proved that the accolades of Australia’s official and national youth network Triple J holds some credence because for their early afternoon timeslot they draw a sizeable crowd. This is probably also due to the fact that the seven-piece from Townsville are pretty talented. The sweet folk-pop that escapes from the Garden stage nestled in the Botanic element of the festival grounds is a perfect ease into this festival, the sultry conditions, threatening rainclouds overhead and high humidity give a quintessential Queensland feel. ‘Blood’ at the close of their set, is a true highlight, showing that the band are going from strength to strength.

Another band who is able to be categorised in a similar way is Hungry of Kids of Hungary. Again enjoying high radio airplay, the four-piece demonstrate they’ve learnt this past 12 months, looking and sounding incredibly polished for another balmy afternoon (Thursday) at the Hibiscus stage. ‘Set it Right’ and a couple of newer tunes, like ‘Let you down’ go down well with the approaching dusk crowd who the band themselves recognise as having been at Woodford and Falls alike.

Jamie T and his merry men, the Pacemakers greeted the mid-evening crowd Wednesday with a cheeky welcome. Recently in Oz (during September) promoting their second album ‘Kings and Queens’ the set was one to get the kids crumping, brit style. ‘Chaka Demus’, ‘368’ and ‘Sticks and Stones’ as well as old faves from ‘Panic Prevention’, ‘If you’ve got the money’ and ‘Sheila’ rounded out a high-energy punkish performance minus the plaid, but with young Mr Jamie Treay wearing a Rancid Tshirt you know where his sensibility and heart lies.

The Phenomenal Hand-clap Band all eight of them made the journey (also from New York City) to come and experience the Australian way. Their smooth groove of psychedelic melody waned a little on the early afternoon crowd, (perhaps benefited by the mixing prowess of djs on the compilations they’re featured on) however ‘Testimony’ was a taste and testimony to their original flavour.

Before Australia had Blue-juice their were those before them in tracksuits – Data Rock. The crazy Norwegians in red tracksuits greeted the main stage crowd with a high-energy, crazy set, featuring tracks from both the self-titled release of 2005 and the more recent release ‘Red’. ‘Amarillion’ and ‘Give it Up’ showed the future of the red-men group, however die-hard fans were treated to ‘Fa Fa Fa’ and ‘Computer Camp Love’ from whence it all began.

Australia’s most hotly anticipated and own commodity of the two days could have been Sydney lads, The Temper Trap. Not on a festival stage since V Festival almost 12 months ago, again the River Stage is filled to heaving and they the fans, are not disappointed. ‘Fader’, ‘Down River’, ‘Love Lost’ and the crescendo to album ‘Conditions’, love-enticing ‘Sweet Disposition’ make this the set of the two days. An ability to draw on emotional levelling with their music is unparalleled by any other band here this week. They do show a little vulnerability on stage choosing to trial new material and then transition into an elongated instrumental showcase could have been interwoven a little better however they recover well to close with current single ‘Science of Fear’.

Throughout the two days the cream of New York City has been strumming the stages of Sunset Sounds, but as the curtains close on the festival, one act remains. An eye-ball amidst blue glitter rings is erected on the stage and shot into the cataclysm is a psycho-pink hooded Karen O. The band break into some gritty guitar, synth and drums the backdrop for the illustrious vocal stylings of the lady of the night – the Black Widow. ‘Heads will roll’, ‘Soft shock’ and ‘Skeletons’ from 2009’s ‘It’s Blitz’ (the latter providing scope for another psychedlic costume change – an Indian headdress which glows in the dark). The crowd hear ‘Gold Lion’ and are in rapture, as another hit from Yeah Yeah Yeahs of yester year ‘Cheated Hearts’ is belted out. Perhaps the highlight is ‘Maps’ – dedicated to the cuties in the front and the brothers in the back, Karen O knows how to rock the party, caressing the crowd with “Wait, they don’t love you like I do”, no we love you more Karen O.

Ruth Bailey & Jennifer Gover